Newsletter

Athens grand jury indicts teen for strangling 4-year-old sister

A Clarke County grand jury this week indicted a teen on charges he allegedly strangled his 4-year-old sister during a dispute at his mother’s home in Athens three months ago.

Joseph Tyler Skipper, 18, of Danielsville, was charged with first-degree cruelty to children, two counts of battery and criminal damage to property, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court.

On Oct. 22, Athens-Clarke County police said Skipper had an argument with his mother over gas money. As the dispute escalated he allegedly turned his rage on his younger sister.

He squeezed her by the neck so hard she had trouble breathing, according to police.

Skipper also allegedly grabbed and punched at his 38-year-old mother, who told her daughter to hide in her bedroom during the altercation, police said.

The alleged assaults came to light after the mother called 911 to report that her son was banging on windows and kicking the front door in an attempt to get into her home on Commerce Road, police said.

The woman explained that she had kicked him out earlier in the night after he went “ballistic” because she was unable to give him gas money due to a tight budget, according to police.

When he returned and the argument continued, according to police, “(The mother) said that (Skipper) began to focus his rage on (her) 4-year-old daughter.”

The grand jury indictment states that Skipper caused the child “cruel and excessive physical and mental pain by manually strangling her.”

Following his arrest, Skipper was granted a $5,000 bond and was released from jail on conditions he have no contact with his mother and sister. He must reside with his father in South Carolina.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org.